BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — Union County has done well during the current grant cycle and Tallahassee has been kind because funding is being provided for several projects that the Union County Board of Commissioners has seen the need for. The total of the grants, derived from a number of state and federal sources, is $20.35 million.
Current ongoing grants for the county include $430,000 from the federal Environmental Protection Agency in the form of a Brownfields Grant (for the assessment of potential contaminated sites in the county), along with state grants for a number of projects.
The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program as given the county $160,000 for work on the fencing and lights at the O.J. Phillips Park and ballfield. Also from the state is a grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Florida Historical Grants Program for Small County Restoration Design – earmarked for the repair and restoration of some of the historic features of the Union County Courthouse, such as the windows.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has granted the county $750,000 to expand and improve the Union County Agricultural Education Complex, adding another arena and making other improvements. Enterprise Florida has given the county $25,000 for Enterprise Consulting and another $10,000 for Marketing as assistance in the work of bringing economic development to the county.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection as once again funded the annual Tire Amnesty event, a happening in which many Union County residents participate in as a way to get rid of old tires accumulating on their property at no cost. The funding for the event totals $25,000.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in addition to the usual road work they provide through the SCRAP and SCOP grant programs (see below), are providing the county with $1.5 million for bridge repair and road work on CR-229.
FDOT is also continuing funding necessary road work in the county through its Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP) and Small County Outreach Program (SCOP). Four projects on funded in this grant cycle – $5 million for paving and necessary repairs to CR-18 from CR-121 to the Columbia County Line, $4 million for similar work on CR-238 from 111th St. to CR-229, $500,000 for a project involving 92nd, 146th and 152nd Streets and $3.5 million for repairs and paving of CR-229 from CR-121 to the Baker County Line.
The Florida Legislature responded favorable to three of five funding request made by the county.
In the recent past, the Legislature mandated updates in the security of all of the county courthouses in the state but failed (at that time) to provide funding to the counties to finance the needed work. In its last session, the Legislature granted Union County $550,000 to upgrade courthouse security. Also granted, under the auspices of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, were requests for funds to build a fire station in Providence ($850,000) and a start on the funds needed to construct a new Public Safety Complex ($3,000,000).
The Public Safety Complex will replace the aging Union County Jail, needed office space for the Union County Sheriff’s Office and badly needed space for Union County Emergency Management. Although this is only about 20% of the funds that will be needed to build the complex ($15 million), it provides a start that will allow the county to get the final plans and site work done, with the hope that if positive progress is shown the Legislature will approve further funds for the project next year or sooner.
